MRFRS News and Events
... Open House at Salisbury Headquarters Wednesday, June 30, 2004 2 PM to 7 PM @63 Elm Street, Salisbury, MA. Come check out our new home!


Homeless cats topic of public forum
... We have a problem with feral cats, [or] cats that don’t have an owner,"
said Mayor Neil Marko. "They congregate at the factory ...
Millstone Examiner - Millstone, NJ, USA


Rabid raccoon found in Hartsdale
Mid-Hudson News, NY


Pet protection
Seattle Times, WA


Woman struggles quietly to aid town's stray felines
COMMENTARY
Newton `cat lady' faults irresponsible pet owners
Charlotte Observer (subscription) - Charlotte, NC, USA


Florida Panther Trapped After Roaming Into Campground
WFtv.com, FL


Booklet aims to help identify trees in US
[Scroll down to]
... WAVERLY -- The Pike County Humane Society is offering a free spay and neuter clinic for cats and dogs to people who meet federal poverty guidelines. ...
Chillicothe Gazette, OH


IN NEED OF A HOME
From late February to early August, animal shelters are inundated with cats. ... While shelters' intake of cats is up, adoptions are down. ...
Fort Worth Star Telegram (subscription), TX


Best way to help shelter involves no more tax money
... They urged the commissioners to enact an ordinance banning carcass-burning.
... If you're not going to take care of a dog or cat, don't get one. ...
Marion Chronicle Tribune - Marion, IN, USA


County Plans to Rate Pet Groomers, Kennels
... said she wrote the ordinance because she read articles about poorly
kept kennels. She said one of her staff members who wanted to board a
cat was horrified by ...
Los Angeles Times (subscription) - Los Angeles, CA, USA


Majestic eagles are thriving at Wyangala
... bird of prey and requires nesting sites for reproduction that are in limited supply due to many different pressures such as habitat destruction and feral cats. ...
Cowra Guardian, Australia

Animal shelters dealing with 'kitten season'
... June is National Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month, and the HSNT offers reduced
adoption rates through July and special spay/neuter rates for June. ...
Fort Worth Star Telegram (subscription) - Fort Worth, TX, USA


Haley leading Humane Society
... members. One of the local society's newest and most important functions
is providing a low cost spay/neuter clinic every Friday. Tim's ...
Caloosa Belle - LaBelle, FL, USA


Kittens Crowd Sheboygan Animal Shelter
... donations of litter, food, or cash. The Humane Society advises pet
owners to spay or neuter their pets to help control the population.
WBAY - Green Bay, WI, USA


[Scroll down to]
Volunteers needed
The Stoneham Feral Cat Society is actively seeking volunteers to help with its non-profit organization. If you are interested in joining the Society's mission of assisting homeless and helpless feral cats and kittens in Stoneham, please call 781-279-4652.
The Stoneham Feral Cat Society is working together as a community... one cat at a time.
Stoneham Sun - Woburn, MA, USA


Enjoy Fireworks on the Fourth, But Leave Your Pet at Home
Humane Society of the US
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: Have you or your area animal shelters and organizations alerted the press and public?]


Kitty bonds with family
The kitten's story started in late March when someone broke into a Phoenix
recycling plant that stray cats called home and doused Honey Bear, his
mother and ...
Arizona Republic - Phoenix, AZ, USA


Winograd to leave SPCA post
Ithaca Journal, NY
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: Nathan, you and others like you are much needed to assist animal organizations across the country.]


Wanted: A cute, nightloving, furry creature to make beautiful ...
ABC Regional Online, Australia


[Scroll down to]
... The SPCA will provide certificates for free spay/neuter to any Babylon
Shelter dogs or cats adopted that day and reduced spay/neuter for any
visitors' current pets.
South Bay News - South Bay, NY, USA


Rabies prevention is a must, county health officials warn
Oneonta Daily Star, NY


She cooks food fit for a King — or Rex, or Fido or Spot ...
The Baltimore Sun
Quad City Times, IA


Cat Group Wants Earlier Neutering
UKPets, UK


Cat rescued from perch in palm tree
Galveston County Daily News, TX


Shelter can't keep up with unwanted, dumped animals
Searcy Daily Citizen, AR


News Roundup
... The HE Butt Grocery Co., SNAP and the Bexar County Humane Society are offering a free/low-cost spay or neuter service Wednesday before 7:30 am at the HEB at ...
San Antonio Express (subscription), TX

College students lack brains when it comes to pet adoption
... Now, its out on the street copulating, and soon there will be a plethora
of baby animals that will find their way to a no-kill shelter -- if they're
lucky. ...
Tarentum Valley News Dispatch - Tarentum, PA, USA


Some important PGE Park 'workers' aren't people
... Yes, about 10 to 15 feral cats call PGE Park home, and director of park operations Ken Puckett treats them like any other valuable employee. ...
Oregonian, OR


Indiana State Wildlife Update
... G&F: What effect are coyotes, feral dogs and cats having on small- game populations? Lange: In areas of good habitat, they're not much of a problem at all. ...
Indiana Game and Fish Magazine, IN


Pet problems
... In adults, purring is heard in domesticated cats when they are petted, and in feral cats, during sexual or other social contexts. ...
ic Teesside.co.uk, UK


Homes sought for cats at shelter
... Starting later this summer, the state will be offering a spay-neuter
program for low income dog and cat owners, called "Help Fix ME." Owners
will pay a ...
Brunswick Times Record - Brunswick, ME, USA


Purrfect solution
... Feral cats can become house cats. ... Tens of millions of cats are
feral in the United States — strays, lost or abandoned cats or cats
born to feral mothers. ...
Washington Times - Washington, DC, USA


Feeding feral cats may contribute to lion problem
... She's referring instead to the large population of pet-sized feral
cats that many people go out of their way to help and protect. ...
Monterey County Herald - Monterey, CA, USA


Look for these pets at the Front Street Dog Shelter:
... Animal Care Council holds spay-neuter clinics for cats at their adoption center at 131 Washington Ave., Endicott. Spays $40; neuters $30. ...
Press & Sun-Bulletin - Binghamton, NY, USA


Allergies to cats make house breathtaking in worst way
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN


Cat-astrophic reactions
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN


WIN CAT PLAY EQUIPMENT TO AID YOUR CAT'S TOTAL BODY HEALTH WITH ...
Feline Online, UK


Animal shelters in crisis
KVOA.com, AZ


Letter: Stuck with abandoned cats
Press & Sun-Bulletin, NY


Pain control for pets an important issue
Monterey County Herald, CA

"Schwarzenegger reverses stand on waiting period for killing strays" !!!
[Feral Cat Blog! Note:
Also see entries June 25 and 26 under California Alerts. For dozens of news articles nationwide on this topic, do a news search on Schwarzenegger!]


It should be a case of let-live for mountain lions
San Francisco Chronicle, CA


Maybe we need to call it the Florida cougar
Orlando Sentinel (subscription), FL


Shelters littered with spring kittens seek good homes
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA


When Cats Come Calling
Access North Georgia, GA


SPCA struggling with increase in cats, kittens
Wairarapa Times Age, New Zealand


The forefronts
[Excerpt]
A visitor to the Slater garden cannot walk through without being followed by family felines. Louna has made the garden creature-friendly, even building hideaway homes under the porch where stray cats can find shelter and including plants and trees such as the Mulberry to help feed the birds.
Toronto Star, Canada


Pensioner distraught over vanishing cats
Sunday Times, South Africa


Opportunities around the area
... volunteering: Fund-raising/research and grant writing; providing education;
information/referral to county/city residents on trap/neuter/return process;
public ...
York Daily Record - York, PA, USA


Alachua County Holds All-Cat Adopt-A-Thon
They're striving to make Alachua County a no-kill community one pet adoption
at a time. ... That's what it will take to make us a no-kill community."....
WCJB - Gainesville, FL, USA


Animal rescuer wants to open humane shelter
... as a way to "educate the community about spaying and neutering their
pets," as well as national initiatives such as "trap, neuter and release"
for feral cats. ...
New Brunswick Home News Tribune - New Brunswick, NJ, USA


Tammany feral-cat rescue group seeks volunteers
... But she said the volunteers who trap feral cats, get them treated by
vets and either keep them, hoping they will be adopted, or release them
again, have their ...
Times Picayune - New Orleans, LA, USA


39 Girl Scouts reach highest level
... Judith Jolly, 17, led a community education program to recruit adult
volunteers to be trained to trap feral cats to be sterilized and released
back into ...
Charlotte Observer (subscription) - Charlotte, NC, USA


Animal officer seeks bylaw to license town's felines
... 'Cat licensing and cat regulation is a good idea, but they have to
look at it closely," Giacoppo said. ... 'We are definitely for cat licensing,"
he said. ...
Boston Globe - Boston, MA, USA


Vox Populi: "Irresponsible people who don't spay or neuter their ...
... Irresponsible people who don't spay or neuter their pets should be
forced to watch their unwanted pets being euthanized.". "Thank ...
Savannah Morning News - Savannah, GA, USA


Tribune editorial: Governments must address overpopulation
... While many pet owners would object to the licensing requirement as
excessive government intrusion, the overpopulation problem, in addition
to becoming an ...
Fort Pierce Tribune - Fort Pierce, FL, USA


Shelter is animals' best friend
... Another is to solve pet overpopulation by spaying and neutering so
that euthanasia of healthy animals becomes a thing of the past. ...
Times Picayune - New Orleans, LA, USA

"Schwarzenegger reverses stand on waiting period for killing strays" !!!
[Feral Cat Blog! Note:
Also see entries yesterday under California Alerts. For dozens of news articles on this topic, do a news search on Schwarzenegger!]
From United Animal Nations:
HAYDEN LAW MAY BE SAVED - BUT MAKE SURE THEY SEE IT THROUGH!
[Excerpts]
PLEASE THANK Governor Schwarzenegger for recognizing the value of the Hayden legislation and tell him we look forward to working with him on legislation to protect animals in the future.
Special thanks to Assemblymembers Koretz, Levine and Leno for showing their leadership on this issue as well.
The concerns of the animals were heard loud and clear. Please be sure your thanks are just as loud.


Animal Care, Not Cruelty
... Fugit says the Idaho Humane Society is getting overwhelmed with all the kittens coming in right now and urges you to spay and neuter your cats and dogs if you ...
KBCI, ID


Animal Shelters Overloaded, Putting Animals to Sleep
... Shelter workers say people fail to spay or neuter their pets, then the animal gets pregnant, or impregnates other animals in the neighborhood. ...
KPOM-TV, AR


Answering the (cat)call
... It's a heartbreak to us to not be able to take them all.". Arend said it's essential that families spay and neuter their cats to prevent over-population. ...
The Jackson Citizen-Patriot, MI


Spay/neuter clinic offers low-cost options
A mobile spay and neuter unit from the Arizona Humane Society will be stopping in Payson from Tuesday to Thursday next week. Surgeries ...
Payson Roundup, AZ


Animal Control needs more than a building
... The answer is to cut the supply of animals, through a low-cost, countywide spay-neuter program, and to aggressively enforce a licensing law that charges far ... Fayetteville Online, Fayetteville NC


Neighbors say garbage attracted feral cats
LIBERTY A large pile of garbage at an East Point-area residence could be a contributing factor to a recent rabies outbreak in that neighborhood, neighbors said.
Williamsport Sun Gazette, PA


War may be impacting pets
When Lara and Matt Jackson found out her Navy transfer would send them from Columbia to the Seattle area, they agonized about what to do with Betsy, the couple’s 1-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever.
The State , SC


More than 100 cats die at SPCA shelter
The Express Times, PA


Do low - protein diets - or high - protect cats against kidney ...
DetNews.com, MI


PET CALENDAR
... Spay/neuter assistance for Tri-Valley feral cats. 925-426-8656. Cats must be in a proper trap to be accepted by the veterinarian. ...
Contra Costa Times - Contra Costa County, CA, USA


Woman given ultimatum: Remove felines or face fine
... For cat lover Sallada, that would be like asking a parent which one
of her ... Residents may not have more than six pets, according to a township ordinance. ...
Allentown Morning Call - Allentown, PA, USA


Public invited to shower kittens with kindness
... Board president Susan O’Leary said she got the idea for the novel
fund-raiser for the not-for-profit, no-kill shelter for cats from other
shelters in Chicago ...
Gary Post Tribune - Gary, IN, USA


Cats Litter Area Shelters As Population Swells
Kansas City Channel.com, MO


Good neighbors make domestic bliss a reality
San Francisco Chronicle, CA


Algonquin Hotel's puss checks out during rehab
New York Daily News, NY

"Schwarzenegger reverses stand on waiting period for killing strays" !!!
[See additions to California Alerts info below]


Clinic offers portable health care for cats
... And KittiCo, a nonprofit group, has come up with a new way to handle
cat overpopulation: a 28-foot-long RV that's been fitted out as a mobile
spay/neuter clinic ...
Dallas Morning News (subscription) - Dallas, TX, USA


Veterinarian, clinic workers help stay terrors of rabies
... A certificate of rabies vaccination must be presented if you are licensing
for the first time or ... You don't have the town reminding you that your
cat needs doing ...
Kent Good Times Dispatch - New Milford, CT, USA


Feral cats wiping out bilby population
... FRANK MANTHEY: The Commonwealth did a survey on feral cats not so long ago, and estimated that our feral cat population in Australia has now reached 22 million ...
ABC Online, Australia


Spring is wild baby season
... summer. Feral (stray) cats and domestic cats allowed to run free are one of the greatest threats to wildlife in America. They will ...
Ames Daily Tribune, IA


County briefs
LOWER WINDSOR TWP. Ordinance targets cats
Officials in Lower Windsor Township are considering adopting an animal enforcement ordinance to help cut down on residents who feed stray or feral cats.
Supervisors recently reviewed a draft of the ordinance, which would make it unlawful for residents to feed wild cats unless attempting to catch them.
The ordinance was drafted in response to several complaints township staff has received regarding large numbers of wild cats gathering in areas where residents have been putting food out for them. The supervisors will review a final copy of the ordinance at their next meeting, July 8, at 7 p.m. at the township municipal building, 2425 Craley Road.
York Dispatch - York, PA, USA
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: Catch 'em and then what??? Let's find out.]


Council nixes cat limit; feeding still in question
[Excerpts]
... While (residents who feed feral cats) may not need to clean up after
stray cats, they will not be allowed to feed them," he said. ...
The ordinance will be raised for public comment on July 6. [bold added - FC Blog!]
Windsor-Hights Herald - Hightstown, NJ, USA
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: Opportunity for Reader Opinions' online with this article.]


~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Feral Cat Blog! Note: CALIFORNIA - ACTION ALERTS!]

Schwarzenegger reverses stand on waiting period for killing strays
Associated Press
KESQ, CA
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: This story picked up nationwide.]

Update from www.theanimalspirit.com
Subj: Update: Schwarzenegger Backs Off From Stray Pet Crackdown
Date: 6/25/2004 8:03:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Schwarzenegger Backs Off From Stray Pet Crackdown
Washington Post

- - - - -
Alert by FeralPlace@aol.com, 6/25/03, www.theanimalspirit.com
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/06/25/Schwarzenegger.strays.ap/index.html
News Article:
Schwarzenegger backs speedier killing of strays
Friday, June 25, 2004 Posted: 11:34 AM EDT (1534 GMT)
Contact:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
Email: http://www.govmail.ca.gov
- - - - -

State Budget Will Repeal the Hayden Law Protecting Companion Animals
URGENT! Please Call Legislators Today!
http://www.uan.org/advocacy/hayden.html

EMERGENCY - HAYDEN BILL (SB 1785) MAY BE VOIDED IF YOU DON'T ACT NOW
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnimalAdvocacy/message/4028

Governor Wants to Repeal Law Favoring Pet Adoption
... Schwarzenegger wants to repeal California's comprehensive law forcing
animal shelters to hold stray cats and dogs up to six days before killing
them, a budget ...
Los Angeles Times (subscription) - Los Angeles, CA, USA

Row over 'Terminating' California's Stray Cats and Dogs
Animal rights campaigners reacted angrily today to plans by California
governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to “terminate” stray cats and dogs. ...
The Scotsman - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Gov. Schwarzenegger Proposes Terminating Stray Animals
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is outraging animal lovers
by proposing to make it easier for shelters to kill stray cats and dogs. ...
NBC 11.com - San Francisco, CA, USA

[Feral Cat Blog! Resources: For those who'd like to learn more about the Hayden Law:
An Analysis by UCLA Law Professor Taimie Bryant, Ph.D.
Hayden Legislation Update:
“The Uncertain Present and Future of the Hayden Shelter Reform Legislation of 1998” by UCLA Law Professor, Taimie Bryant, March 2004.]

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Doggone crowded
Lancaster Newspapers, PA


Quality-of-life woes discussed in Easton
Penn Live, PA -


Around The Region
... Alley Cat Guardians announced a Saturday garage sale to raise money to aid in the organization's mission of trapping, spaying and neutering feral cats, and to ...
Modesto Bee, CA


Stray cats, drugs topics of meeting
Easton Mayor Phil Mitman attended the city's second Block Watch Association
meeting Thursday night and discussed topics ranging from stray cats to
drug dealers ...
Allentown Morning Call - Allentown, PA, USA


Radio station squabble spilling over to charity
... After Miller mentioned he was having trouble with stray cats that had
settled under his house, sports talk was put aside as listeners flooded
the phone lines ...
The Tennessean - Nashville, TN, USA


If you love kitty, don't set it free
... Stray cats are likely to spread viruses, such as feline leukemia and
other fatal diseases. If your cat needs a friend, adopt another ...
Arizona Republic - Phoenix, AZ, USA


Glad Wolf's at door
... on pet registrations has further increased the number of abandoned
animals. "We hope that what we do will be a great help for what is a terrible
overpopulation ...
New York Daily News - New York, NY, USA


Cats, dogs need foster homes while shelter waits for new building ...
South Florida Sun-Sentinel - Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA


Dr Reddin to head KICCC
... The trapping sub-committee, led by Mr Barry Green, tabled numbers of 144 feral cat control events, from which nearly 50 feral cats have been analysed for ... Kangaroo Island Islander, Australia


Students travel from US to help with KI project
... The 4.2 kilometres of two metre high fencing has been specifically designed to keep out feral cats, pigs and goats that threaten the existence of native ...
Kangaroo Island Islander, Australia


Winchester has a cat problem
Winchester Sun, KY


Woman who took in stray cat now being treated for rabies
phillyburbs.com, PA

The American Bird Conservancy's (ABC) Cats Indoors! Campaign has updated their "Fact" Sheets (see left menu bar) and announced winners of the 2004 Keep Your Cat Indoors Day Poster Competition

[Feral Cat Blog! Note: The new Cats Indoors! "Getting the Facts about Cat Law" "fact" sheet cites as before Santa Rosa (CA) legislation for mandatory spay/neuter by owners of cats that roam. Interesting comments about this appear on Cat Out Loud. In checking research from my files plus Santa Rosa's current codes/ordinances, the ordinance went into effect in 1992 (from Killing the Crisis, Not the Animal: A Blueprint for Passing a Lifesaving Ordinance by Kim Sturla) but was repealed in 2001 at which time it was replaced with a requirement to spay/neuter impounded cats. I called the City of Santa Rosa to confirm. There are ordinances that require spay/neuter of outdoor cats in Riverside County (unincorporated areas) and Petaluma CA and El Dorado, AS.
For those unaware, the Cats Indoors! Campaign promotes keeping cats indoors (a very good thing when possible) but does not make provision for millions of homeless cats. One suggestion is that the public humanely trap and take stray cats to local shelters.
Unfortunately not stated -- a majority of cats may be killed or not accepted at many public and private shelters.]


Rabid animals found
For the second time in three months, a case of rabies has been verified in Covington County.
The Andalusia Star-News, AL


Cat couldn't catch flies with honey
Hagerstown Morning Herald, MD


When a House Is Breathtaking in the Worst Way
Canton Repository (subscription), OH


Condemned Home Overrun by Felines
Winnebago County Animal Services takes several cats out of a home in Rockford. Animal services responded to complaints that a home ...
WTVO, IL


Homeowner arrested for cat neglect
Millbrook Voice Ledger - Millbrook, NY, USA


Stray cat neutering program approved
[Rolling Meadows, IL]
Chicago Daily Herald - Chicago, IL, USA


Young Street fixture dies
... title by helping neighbors with woodwork- ing projects, fixing lawnmowers, picking up litter on city streets and by the bay, feeding feral cats and smiling at ...
AL.com - Mobile, AL, USA


Cat's it for the first year
Waltham Forest Guardian - UK


Animal shelter offers free spay/neuter program
Register-Pajaronian - Watsonville, CA, USA


PET OF THE WEEK
... The Humane Society also offers low-cost spay/neuter services for cats through its mobile unit. Male cat neutering starts at ...
Miami Herald (subscription) - Miami, FL, USA


PETS CALENDAR
... Call 216-898-1653. Nomad Mobile Animal Sterilization Hospital. Low-cost spay/neuter clinic for cats. Registration accepted through Friday, July 30. ...
Cleveland Plain Dealer (Subscription) - Cleveland, OH, USA

City passes stormwater rates
... Lotter said she disagreed with Bowie's position on the issue and would
still like to see a cat leash law included in the animal ordinance, but
felt that it was ...
The Post & Mail - Columbia City, IN, USA


K-9 Corner: Statute changes vaccination rules
... In addition, "any person with feral cats on his premises shall make
a reasonable effort to capture or vaccinate the cats." (To comply, people
with feral cats ...
Danville Advocate - Danville, KY, USA


Local Briefs
Kurycz brought his worries about free-roaming cats ­ stray and pet ­
to Tuesday's Cumberland Township meeting. He asked supervisors ...
The Evening Sun - Hanover,PA,USA


Hands off those cats!
... Cats do wander about and people shouldn't automatically presume they
have seen a stray, just because it appears on their street or in the garden. ...
ic Huddersfield.co.uk - Huddersfield, England, UK


Activists deserve credit for animal rescues
San Francisco Chronicle, CA


Ad:
Felines Desperate for Employment
Feral cats specializing in hunting gophers and mice. Need to relocate. Excellent references.


Animal shelter running out of time
Honolulu Advertiser - Honolulu, HI, USA


Eye on the Valley
Shari Barkley was doing her dead-level best to try to do something about
all the stray cats in the Central Shenandoah Valley. "It ...
Augusta Free Press - Waynesboro, VA, USA


Apply prevention to animal problem
Jacksonville Daily News - Jacksonville, NC, USA


A farm in the country
... By about 1990, having saved enough to clear the land and build a beam-and-post
house, she began capturing feral cats, spaying and neutering them, then setting ...
Providence Journal (subscription) - Providence, RI, USA


Dumping unwanted pets is wrong - and illegal
Richmond Times Dispatch, VA


Officials remove more than 40 cats and dogs from local home
Springfield News Sun, OH


Leave your cat in recognised safe hands
Watford Observer, UK


News in brief from central Pennsylvania
... (AP) - A judge denied a bid by a Lower Paxton Township couple to recover 13 dogs and 25 cats removed from their home by Humane Society officials. ...
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, PA


Officials Seize 20 Cats From Vacant House
Iowa Channel.com, IA


Something happens to you, then what happens to Fluffy?
Fort Wayne News Sentinel, IN


Clear strips protect couches from claws
San Jose Mercury News (subscription), CA


92 cats from Marengo home euthanized
Chicago Daily Herald, IL


Arizona newsmaker
... 2. What are the challenges you keep running into? Overpopulation of dogs and cats. ... I am actually down to seven cats and the two oldest dogs in the world. ...
Arizona Republic, AZ


Rabies shots available at five Broward clinics
Miami Herald (subscription), FL


City pair has drive for SPCA
Lambertville Beacon, NJ


Loving friend filled hearts with blessings
... eyes.". Pearl's eyes saw only love -- not only love for people, but for raccoons, owls, squirrels, dogs and, most particularly, cats. ...
Charlotte Observer (subscription), NC


HORROR AS DEAD CATS BAG FOUND IN ESTATE STREAM
Wrexham Evening Leader, UK


Woman Says Animal Control Killed Healthy Cats
WPBF Channel.com, FL


Cat Adoption - - Two Cats for Price of One
WABC-TV, NY


Fake 'Investigator' Enters Home To Inspect Treatment Of Cats
NewsNet5.com, OH


Cats found dead in Avenues area
Salt Lake Tribune, UT

[Courtesy of Judy C]
Date: Tue Jun 22, 2004
Subject: PROGRAM: BOSTON, MA--Feed and Fix program this weekend

Please spread the word, this will be a great event.
-----------------------------------
June 26, 9-Noon, $5, at the MSPCA Auditorium
350 South Huntington, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Information session only: 9-9:30
Reserve a seat:
HubCats: 617-524-2867 orHubCatsBoston@a...
Feed-and-Fix
Feral Cat Workshop
Uneasy about the number of cats on the street in your neighborhood?
Feeding a growing number of homeless cats at your door, or know someone
who does? There's an alternative to watching and worrying, that will make
life better for them, for you, and for your neighborhood. Learn what to do,
and where to locate resources in the Boston area.
Topics will include:
· Controlling cat populations with trap-neuter-return (TNR)
· Community relations
· Improving food and shelter
· Low/no-cost spay/neutering for feral cats
· Adoption resources


[Feral Cat Blog! Resource:
Cat Management in Communities ]


Lepczyk, C. A., A. G. Mertig, and J. G. Liu. 2004.
Landowners and cat predation across rural-to-urban landscapes.
Biological Conservation 115, no. 2:191-201.
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: This survey centered on 'owned' outdoor cats and did not attempt to establish predation rates by feral cats. Some findings of interest to me:
"The fact that age and educational level show no relationship with the number of cats allowed access to the outdoors is somewhat troubling. Given the amount of attention being directed toward keeping domestic cats indoors by private interest groups, veterinarians, public school sys-tems, and professional scientific organizations, we had predicted a positive effect of age and a negative effect of education on the number of cats allowed access to the outdoors. Instead we found no relationship, suggesting that either the information is not reaching the targeted audience, or that there is a general indifference to the role of cats as predators. One additional reason may be that people may know not to let cats outdoors, but not act accordingly (i.e. action does not follow knowledge)."
and
"Although our research highlights a number of impor-tant findings regarding outdoor cats, there remains many aspects that are in need of further research. First, there is a general paucity of research related to preda-tion and behavior of feral cats, and how they compare with outdoor cats. Given the increase in feral cat colo-nies throughout the United States and their con-troversial management, an understanding of specific differences, if any, between outdoor cats and feral cats is urgently needed (Clarke and Pacin, 2002). Second, con-servation biologists lack data on how specific levels of cat predation depress wildlife populations and if there are thresholds at which cat densities become a biologi-cally significant source of mortality. Third, a similarly related unknown is how cat predation affects wildlife populations at different spatial scales. Fourth, no infor-mation exists on how declawing or neutering and spay-ing may affect cat behavior and predation rates. Fifth, aside from the present study, no information exists on the human dimensions of allowing cats outdoors and what factors underlie this human behavior. Lastly, con-servation education efforts need to be assessed, specifi-cally in regards to outdoor and feral cats, and this assessment needs to be repeated over time to investigate if peoples’ attitudes and behaviors change. These six points represent specific next steps for conservation research on the domestic cat, but by no means are an exhaustive list."]


Concerns grow about health of stray cats

The Porterville Recorder - Porterville, CA, USA


Summit Foundation spring grant awards . . .
Summit Daily News, CO


Pet snatchers warning to residents
ic Croydon, UK


Schuylerville stocks up on creature comforts
The Saratogian, NY


Leashed cat breaks feline stereotypes
Salem Statesman Journal, OR


Vets participating in PAWS program
COVINGTON - Residents of Covington can now enroll in a program to spay or neuter their pets at a low rate for veterinarian services. Five veterinarians have volunteered to participate in the program developed by Vickie Campos, founder of PAWS - Proponents for Animal Welfare in St. Tammany.
News Banner, LA


Petaluma cat collector may spend year in mental facility
Santa Rosa Press Democrat


More precautions urged to stop spread of rabies
Cape Cod Times
Cape Residents Get Rabies Warning Racoons Trapped, Vaccinated In Effort To Contain Disease
The Boston Channel


Prowling the neighborhood Coyote may be responsible for stalking, family-pet deaths
Pasadena Star-News


Pet rescue groups overwhelmed by springtime litters
Savannah Morning News - Savannah, GA, USA


Kittens suffer torture
Belleville News-Democrat - Belleville, IL, USA


Homeowner: Something fishy going on
... a draw for wildlife. The coyotes are so plentiful you don’t see many
stray cats in the neighborhood anymore. It’s common to ...
Woonsocketcall.com - Woonsocket, RI, USA


At your service : Service groups
... www.thehousenextdoor.org; (386) 734-7571. Humane Alternative: Deals
with overpopulation of stray animals, primarily cats, though humane, no-kill
programs. ...
Daytona Beach News-Journal - Daytona, FL, USA


IndyFeral plans event Saturday in Broad Ripple
Indianapolis Star, IN


Montrose animal shelter expansion ready to get started
Montrose Daily Press, CO

Fatal disease showing up in more house cats in NE Georgia
[Cytauxzoonosis, a tick transmitted parasitic disease that destroys a cat's red blood cells]
Access North Georgia

Deadly Disease Affects Cats in Georgia
WXIA-TV, GA


New spay-neutering law not as strong as some would like
The Athens News - Athens, OH, USA


SPCA wants to chip your moggy
... The number of domestic and stray cats nationally is estimated to be
1.5 million. ... These are stray and abandoned cats. "Close to 70 per
cent of them are kittens. ...
Stuff.co.nz - New Zealand


Saved by shelters
King County Journal Newspapers, WA


Raccoon issue could backfire on human health
Times Picayune, LA


Giant rats on the loose
[WordNet definition: Nutria -1. coypu, nutria, Myocastor coypus -- (aquatic South American rodent resembling a small beaver; bred for its fur)]
Jacksonville Daily News, NC


Nominations being accepted for third Chicago Innovation Awards
... We honored innovation in services such as PAWS, which is solving the problem of feral dogs and cats in Chicago, and Northwestern Hospital, which has ...
Chicago Sun Times, IL


West Warwick will be Rockin ‘ for Rover
... Beyond caring for abused animals, the VSA does many other things for
animals including feral cat trapping, which is the trapping of all stray
cats to be ...
Kent County Daily Times - West Warwick, RI, USA


Students leaving for the summer often forget to pack their pets
Officials at shelters in Indiana and several other college towns say they
have seen an increase in the number of stray cats and dogs since the school
year ended ...
Centre Daily Times - Centre County, PA, USA


Pet of the Week
... The Big Fix Mobile Spay/Neuter clinic will be there offering discounted sterilization surgeries, beginning ...
Salt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City, UT, USA


Humane departure
Charlotte Observer (subscription) - Charlotte, NC, USA

Veterinary research needs study begins
[Excerpt]
"(The area of incidence data) represents a significant deficiency in the area of research, even though it is not specifically research-oriented," Dr. Albers said.
Incidence information that does exist is troubling. According to Dr. Beaver, behavior problems alone lead to the deaths of 13 million dogs and cats per year. "That's 10 percent of the cat and dog population dying from behavior problems. That is more than all infectious diseases in small animals," she said. Dogs bite four million people each year in the United States. And various other problems indicate that more research into behavior is needed.
JAVMA July 1, 2004


Opinions: Letters to the Editor - [June 12, 2004, Waukegan, IL]
Unfairly targeted
Suburban Chicago Newspapers.com
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: See news articles under June 3 and 10 and action alerts under June 16.]


Walter Eager: Florida panther population continues to rebound
Vero Beach Press-Journal, FL


Rebels without their claws
Winnipeg Sun, Canada


Baby from afar brightens a family's Father's Day
The Express Times, PA


Animal shelter doing its best to deal with overwhelming numbers
Coshocton Tribune, OH


California bills go too far, critics say
... who awards tongue-in-cheek "Nosey Awards" for legislation that "sticks its nose where it least belongs," cited a bill to require microchipping of cats and dogs ... Record-Searchlight, CA


Feral eradication program stepped up
Environment Minister John Mickel said one of main targets, feral cats,
were vicious hunters that inflicted widespread damage on native wildlife.
...
Ninemsn - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia


Dog days of summer
... The Help for Animals mobile spay and neuter clinic van, which travels
within a 50-mile radius of the Tri-State, was also at the event. ...
Huntington Herald Dispatch - Huntington, WV, USA


Shelter brimming with cats
Durango Herald, CO


A protective bond
Mail Tribune, OR

Feral cats need homes
Kinston Free Press - Kinston, NC, USA


Giant lizards overrun us
... Seeking to stem the growth of the iguana population, the Wildlife Care Center in Fort Lauderdale plans to start a spay and neuter program for the iguanas that ...
Miami Herald (subscription), FL


Finding a feline friend: June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month
[Seneca County]
The Advertiser-Tribune, OH


ASPC notes Adopt a Cat Month
Daily Home Online, Ala


Add a feline to the family
The Payson Roundup, AZ


Cats, dogs getting microchip implants
Marshalltown Times Republican - Marshalltown, IA, USA


Foundation hands out more than $150,000
... Animal Rescue Coalition will receive $19,500 to expand the services
of its mobile spay/neuter clinic in south Sarasota county. ...
Venice Gondolier - Venice, FL, USA


It's a kitty cat baby boom Humane Society overflowing with homeless kittens
MLive.com - MI, USA


Fur flies in these custody battles
Chicago Tribune (subscription), IL


Bigger, better quarters expected to reduce number of sick and ...
Minneapolis Southwest Journal, MN


Happenings in Natick and beyond
... Stray Pets In Need of Massachusetts Inc. (SPIN), is a non-profit organization caring for all animals, primarily cats. Facilities ...
Natick Tab, MA


Cat survives 8 weeks entrapment under concrete!
Webindia123.com, India


Your Letters
Please keep cats indoors
Centre Daily Times, PA


Finding a feline friend: June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month
Tiffin Advertiser Tribune, OH

Osterville raccoon tests positive for rabies
A raccoon taken from Osterville Sunday morning has tested positive for rabies. This is the first confirmed case of rabies and the farthest east on Cape Cod since the first reported cases in Bourne in March.
The Barnstable Patriot, MA


Public Notices
... Jeri Culp addressed the Council about the over abundance of stray cats
in town. Clerk will check with Roger Hutton to see if he ...
Winterset Madisonian - Winterset, IA, USA


Bush signs 12 new license plates into law
Associated Press
The license plates include one that will help the Humane Society promote spaying and neutering, … Animal Friends …
Miami Herald, FL


Adopt a cat month continues
Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil - Council Bluffs, IA, USA


A walk in the park
... from the society. Free sterilization is provided to un-socialized (feral)
cats maintained by colony caretakers. The society also ...
Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Honolulu, HI, USA


Calendar of events
... MERRIMACK RIVER FELINE RESCUE SOCIETY NO-KILL
SHELTER needs loving homes for older cats. The adoption fee ...
Merrimack River Current - Byfield, MA, USA


Fund raiser in support of Ottawa Feral Cats
Date: June 18, 2004 Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Ottawa Feral Cats


The cat's meow
NewsOK.com (subscription), OK


No , really - - you can train a cat
Alameda Times-Star, CA


Owners allow their cats to prowl
Sky News, UK


Neighbours cats voted top nuisance for gardeners!
Webindia123.com, India


Mobile Animal Surgery Hospital Comes To Region 8
... Sassy has had a tough day. He's spent it at the Mobile Animal Surgical
Hospital, getting neutered. "We have a lot of stray cats around our area
and they're ...
KAIT - Jonesboro, AR, USA


Township ticketing
... They’re punishing people for licensing their pets and, worse yet,
deterring others from licensing their animals with ... In the event the
dog/cat owner fails ...
North Brunswick Sentinel - North Brunswick, NJ, USA


Big eyes murphy building in second funding phase
... Council advertised a proposed amendment to a recently approved ordinance
requiring Blairsville cat owners to obtain borough licenses for their
pets, at a cost ...

Blairsville Dispatch - Blairsville, PA, USA


Raid nets 71 cats
Canyon Courier, CO


Sign: Adopt Cats By Friday Or They'll Be Shot
WPXI.com, PA


NEIGHBOURS HEARTBROKEN AS FIVE CATS ARE POISONED
Doncaster Today, UK


Community notes
... While cats and kittens are available year-round, June is often the busiest time, with overwhelming numbers of cats in need of loving homes. ...
North Andover Citizen, MA


Couple seeking return of dogs, cats
Penn Live, PA

Cat population explosion in Ohio
Washington Times - Washington, DC, USA


City cat crackdown
Washington Journal - Washington, IA, USA


Hot News Briefs
... Dog and cat rabies vaccinations will be administered by Bill Brewster,
DVM, at $10 per ... they met in special session on May 10 to accept an
ordinance to vacate ...
Heber Springs Sun-Times - Heber Springs, AR, USA


Community notes
... For information on cat adoptions or spay/neuter assistance, call the
MSPCA at Nevins Farm at 978-687-7453 or visit Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
and Saturday from ...
North Andover Citizen - Danvers, MA, USA


County, Sequoia Humane Society
Prepare For End Of Contract
The Eureka Reporter, CA


More mail disruptions at Maltapost
di-ve.com, Malta


Gulf Coast Foundation awards $150000 in grants
... $19,607 to the South County Family YMCA for aquatics equipment. $19,500 to the Animal Rescue Coalition for its mobile spay/neuter clinic. ...
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL


PET OF THE WEEK
... The Humane Society also offers low-cost spay/neuter services through its mobile unit. Male cat neutering starts at $20, and ... Miami Herald (subscription), FL


Cat boom has shelters warning: Homeless pets have only 8 lives ...
Public and private shelter officials agree that the problem of pet overpopulation
could be solved if people would simply spay or neuter their pets. ...
... We ask people with feral cats in their neighborhood to trap them, have
them spayed or neutered, and return them to the neighborhood.". ...
Cleveland Plain Dealer (Subscription) - Cleveland, OH, USA


Feral cats banned in city parks
The City Council passed a revised animal regulation ordinance Monday night intended among other things to control the feral cat population of Petaluma. However, opponents of the new law say it will not do what the city hopes.
Argus Courier, CA


Cat back home after scrape with trapper
... A professional trapper hired by the homeowners association had captured the 7-year-old cat as part of an effort to fight troubles caused by "loose cats" in the ...
St. Petersburg Times, FL


Cool for cats
Sauvignon blanc grows in popularity and quality
Prague Post, Czech Republic


Anette Hilburn makes mission of rescuing wildlife
Macon Telegraph, GA


Neb. city considers leash law on cats
AZ Central.com, AZ


Animal neglect cited in Millbrook
Millbrook Round Table, NY


Skimmer flock smaller, biologists say
Fort Worth Star Telegram (subscription), TX

Leaving the nest
Corpus Christi Caller Times, TX


Kitten rescued from drain
Ironton Tribune, OH


Once lost, gritty kitty finds home
Lancaster Newspapers, PA


Girl bitten by rabid stray cat in Jefferson County
Hagerstown Morning Herald, MD


Odebolt City Council
... dogs. Statements were made in reference to several barking dogs in
the neighborhood and that stray cats are often the primary cause. ...
Ida County Courier - Ida Groove IA, USA


Fear? No, Evil
[Scroll down to]
Klingon Cats
... superintendent awake all night. It seems that the south-of-Miami Village
of Pinecrest, where Stierheim resides, is overrun with stray cats. ...
Miami New Times - Miami, FL, USA


Wild cat invasion terrifies
... Acknowledging that a huge increase in feral cats in urban areas has become a national problem, a spokesperson for the ISPCA said that the majority of these ...
Limerick Post, Ireland


Budget starting in red
... move, the council Tuesday called for terminating its contract with Yuba County Animal Control to find a cheaper way to round up stray dogs, cats and other ...
Appeal-Democrat, CA


Couple cultivates wildlife in Warren backyard
Barrington Times, RI


Sheriff's Report : June 6 - June 13 , 2004
... A four-year-old female was reported bitten by a stray cat at 1149 Lotus ... Deputy assisted the Boone Area Humane Society in picking up three abandoned cats from a ...
Ogden Reporter, IA


Animals find all the comforts of home at new center
Ithaca Times, NY

Alley Cat Allies (ACA) - Feral Cat News and Urgent Alert:
Cruel Ordinance Passed in Illinois
The city council of Waukegan, Illinois has approved a new ordinance that will result in the killing of feral cats due to the unrealistic restrictions put on their caregivers. (more)

The Animal Spirit - Feral Cat Network: Urgent Alert
Waukegan, Illinois has begun legally obstructing feral cat caregivers

[Feral Cat Blog! Note: News article was posted on the blog under June 10.
Stray cats banned by city
Waukegan ordinance: Targets caretakers of feral colonies
Link has changed to:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/archives/build/w09waukegan.htm


Vanishing penguin chicks raise conservationists' fears
[Excerpt]
... Feral cats were at first blamed for the chick deaths, Mr Bevan said. But it became clear that adult birds were not catching the chicks' normal food. ...
New Zealand Herald, New Zealand
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: Excerpts from the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust studies were posted on the blog under March 15. They are repeated here:
The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust - Feral Cat Study on Stewart Island
March 2004
Despite the fact that the first year of our study into the effects of feral cats on hoiho populations on Stewart Island did not show high rates of predation, we still managed to obtain some useful data.
The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust - Unexplained Chick Losses on Stewart Island
March 2004
[Excerpt]
The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust has just completed the first year of a planned five-year study to measure the effects of cat predation on yellow-eyed penguins on Stewart Island's north-eastern beaches. But instead of cat predation, what we found was as yet unexplained high chick death rate.
The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust - Cat predation on Stewart Island
[Excerpt]
This research proposal covers a five-year study into whether the control of cats has a positive effect on the breeding success of yellow-eyed penguins on Stewart Island. One area will have as many cats killed as possible and another will be left as a control area. We are hopeful that this will show us that the fledging success in the targeted area is greater.]


Rules favour cats over dogs
Saanich News - Saanich,British Columbia, Canada


Animal Tales
[Excerpt]
Due to the generosity of a bequest which was matched by grant funds from the Hope Animal Foundation, the Eastern Madera County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (EMCSPCA) is beginning a free trap/neuter/release program for feral cats.
Sierra Star, CA


Animal Control on hunt for funds for new shelter
Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL


Lewis agrees to retire from animal group
Charlotte Observer (subscription), NC


Animal Control seeks grant
Nashville City Paper, TN


Tails on the Trail fundraiser set for June 25
Sierra Star, CA


Officials, residents discuss stray animals
Galveston County Daily News - Galveston, TX, USA


Around town
MANSFIELD -- Stop The Overpopulation of Pets will have a rabies vaccination clinic for area pet owners from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, rain or shine, at the STOP office, 1152 Lexington Ave.
Mansfield News Journal - Mansfield, OH, USA


San Leon, Bacliff talk loose animals
Angleton Times, TX


Officials, residents discuss stray animals
Galveston County Daily News, TX


Lee County animal shelter opens
Fayetteville Online, Fayetteville NC


Peters and Moore Join Forces for Broadway Barks July 10; Menzel ...
Playbill.com, NY


Joe the cat survives coyote attack in Westside neighborhood
Santa Cruz Sentinel, CA


Health Department Will Hold Rabies Clinic in Volney June 16
Oswego Daily News, NY


In Your Town
EASTON AREA pet owners can get rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the city's public service complex, 500 Bushkill Drive. The cost is $10 per animal. Pets must be restrained by a leash or carrier. For information call 610-250-6729.
Allentown Morning Call, PA


Lincoln will try again to put leashes on its cats
Omaha World Herald, NE

In Case of the Dead Otters, Evidence Points to Opossums
New York Times


Forest Park voices dismay
Residents disappointed in code enforcement for junk, poorly maintained houses
Bowling Green Daily News, KY


NYC Issues Rabies Alert
There Hasn't Been A Human Rabies Case In More Than 50 Years
CBS 2

Feed raccoons, not hysteria
Times Picayune, LA

Two bobcats die for rabies tests
Florida Today, FL

Bobcat Bites Woman Who Thought It Was House Cat
Local6.com, FL

[Feral Cat Blog! Resources:
"Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and causes of disease in populations."
United States rabies surveillance data, 2001
Number and location of reported cases in US, wild animals, domestic animals, human rabies.

Information on the public health importance of the rabies issue including cost of prevention and rabies cost worldwide:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control/Department of Infectious Diseases - About Rabies

Inform yourself locally: check your state and county website - look for Department of Health or similar, or do a search on rabies.]


Teaching Children to be "KIND" to Animals
... This fall, KIND News will discuss the perils facing feral cats, humane solutions to ... of the 2004–2005 school year, orders must be received by June 15, 2004. ...


MBA @ UA - Overview -[U of Alabama]
[Scroll down to]
... available aound June 15, 2004 for at ... Please feed the feral cats (at owner expense)living under the building, and send owner a mail packet every three weeks. ...


2. Time Limits for Spay/Neuter of Feral Cats (PDF, 100 KB) (First reading May 25, 2004 – Unanimous)
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt second reading of an Ordinance amending Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC) Section 10.04.088 to require persons choosing to feed or shelter feral cats to work effectively toward spaying/neutering the entire colony, make documentation of spay/neuter procedures available to Animal Control every two weeks, and spay/neuter 90% of the colony within three months and 100% within five months.
Financial Implications: None.
Contact: Manuela Albuquerque, City Attorney, 981-6950
Action: Adopted Ordinance No. 6,805–N.S. (PDF, 128 KB) Effective July 1, 2004.
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: See first posting under June 1, 2004.]


Attention News Editors:
... Sadly, Montréal is one of the cities in North America
with the highest number of stray cats. ...
CNW Telbec (Communiqués de presse) - Canada


Man dies in trailer park fire
... Little Farm resident Kellie Gomez said Herrero would walk the entire
trailer park every morning feeding stray cats and leaving food for them
in front of other ...
Miami Herald (subscription) - Miami, FL, USA

Man Killed In Mobile Home Fire
Click10.com


Old cat, left behind by move, finds warm new home
The News-Press - Fort Myers, FL, USA


Neighbors, officials to discuss loose animals
Galveston County Daily News, TX


[From yesterday eve]
Program to raise money for stray, feral cats
Indianapolis Star - Indianapolis, IN, USA

Feral cats a nuisance: Jackpot to try spay/neuter service
Elko Daily Free Press - Elko County, NV, USA


Subj: Link and updated info for Parsippany, NJ feeding ban
Date: 6/14/2004
From: FeralPlace
http://www.theanimalspirit.com/parsippany.html


[Feral Cat Blog! Reminder:]
Neighborhood Cats'
Online Course on Trap-Neuter-Return: Managing Feral Cat Colonies
Quick Course- available at any time
Interactive Course- June 14, 2004
Register at SuiteUniversity.com
(click here)


HAWAII AT WORK
Humane society worker focuses on the customer, one pet at a time
Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Honolulu, HI, USA


REFUGEE SEEKS FLAT TO HOUSE HER SEVEN CATS
Exeter Express, UK


It's raining cats, kittens and dogs
VillageSoup, ME


Big cats seek place to prowl in urban areas
USA Today


June is National Disaster Preparedness Month for Animals


--------------------
Subj: NJ Boardwalk Cats Need You to Speak for Them
Date: 6/13/2004
From: FeralPlace@aol.com

Boardwalk Cats Need Your Voice

Please help the boardwalk cats, most of whom have been part of a
trap/neuter/return program, by writing short polite letters to the editor of
the Press and the Mayor of Margate. (Email addresses follow article.)

NEWS ARTICLE:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/atlantic/061204CATS_J12.cfm
Environmentalist fights for cat control at shore
By ALAN RAPPEPORT Staff Writer, (609) 272-7219

CONTACTS:

To e-mail Alan Rappeport at The Press:
ARappeport@pressofac.com

How to send a letter to the editor of the Atlantic City Press
We will not accept letters without your name, full address, daytime and
evening phone numbers. Please remember: letters are subject to editing. The
shorter the letter, the more likely it will be published. For full details
of The Press letters policy, call (609) 272-7279. You can send your letter
to:

The Press Editorial Page
11 Devins Lane
Pleasantville, NJ 08232
For more information, call (609) 272-7266 or 272-7267
letters@pressofac.com

How to write a guest column for the Atlantic City Press
The Press invites readers to submit guest columns on local, regional or
state issues. You can send your 750-word submissions to:

The Press Editorial Page
11 Devins Lane
Pleasantville, NJ 08232
For more information, call (609) 272-7266 or 272-7267
letters@pressofac.com

Mayor of Margate Vaughan Reale
http://www.margate-nj.com/index2.html
--------------------


6/7/04 SET FOR HEARING ON JUNE 14,2004
Statewide Legislation: CALIFORNIA AB 1857
Comments from American Dog Owners Association


[Kinderhook (Columbia County) NY]
Kinderhook Town Board Meeting Agenda - June 14, 2004
13. NEW BUSINESS
B. Feral Cats


Loose animals are a problem in county
Angleton Times - Angleton, TX, USA


Residents: Stray animals run rampant
Angleton Times - Angleton, TX, USA


'Dead' kitty finds home
Winnipeg Sun - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada


The HSUS and Wisc. Dept. of Health & Family Services Release Resource to Help Seniors and Their Pets

Alert: DEADLINE 6/15 - Feeding ban of homeless domestic cats in Parsippany, NJ
Alert by FeralPlace@aol.com, www.theanimalspirit.com, 6/13/04
Source: New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance, njara@nj-ara.org


Animal welfare body raises QR14,729
The Peninsula, Qatar


BETTER LITTER
But a new brand called Green Tea Leaves aims to make living with felines more pleasant.
New York Post, NY


Cat collector exceeds rental unit's limit
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA


Neighborhood turns into a litterbox
Miami Herald (subscription), FL
MICHAEL FOX. Q: Several of my neighbors have cats. They allow these cats to roam the neighborhood. ... What is a humane way to keep these cats out of our yard? ...


Unwanted wild cats becoming bigger problem
Duluth News Tribune, MN


Shelter cats need homes, 'Meow More Than Ever'
The Wichita Eagle, KS


The cat's meow
Pioneer Press (Subscription), MN


The cost of caring for your pet
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica


A life dedicated to animals
The Hindu, India


MORE LIKELY TO COME ...

{The Animal Spirit Newsletter}
Support letters for homeless cats Part 1
Date: 6/12/2004
From: theanimalspirit@hotmail.com

Letters Needed On Behalf Of Homeless Cat Population

Below are three alerts regarding homeless cats in need of our support.
Two more alerts will follow in Part 2, along with a generic feral
cat/TNR sample letter. Please personalize before sending.

Please send polite letters supporting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), an
effective, internationally recognized program to reduce, and eventually
eliminate, feral cat colonies.

Please contact feralcatnet@hotmail.com or visit
http://www.theanimalspirit.com/feralcatnetwork.html for more information on feral cats and TNR.

Information regarding feral cats and birds can be found at:
http://www.theanimalspirit.com/Questions.html#decline and
http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/html/wisconsin_study.html

Information regarding feral cats and disease can be found at:
http://www.theanimalspirit.com/Questions.html#sickly

----------------------------------------------------
1. Comments needed in support of homeless cats in Foster City, CA

Source: Full article located at
http://www.smdailyjournal.org/article.cfm?issue=06-02-04&storyID=31404;
Contact info source: http://www.fostercity.org

BACKGROUND:

Foster City, CA is currently deciding how to control the homeless cat
population. Please encourage Foster City to implement a TNR program.


CONTACT:

Parks & Recreation Department
650 Shell Boulevard
Foster City, CA 94404

Foster City Council
City Hall
610 Foster City Blvd.
Foster City, CA 94404
Phone: (650) 286-3200

Marland W. Townsend, Mayor
Email: Mtownsend@fostercity.org

Rick Wykoff, Vice Mayor
Email: Rwykoff@fostercity.org

Ron Cox, Councilmember
Email: Rcox@fostercity.org

Linda Koelling, Councilmember
Email: Lkoelling@fostercity.org

Deborah E. G. Wilder, Councilmember
Email: Dwilder@fostercity.org

*To send a Letter to the Editor in support of Trap-Neuter-Return:
Email: letters@smdailyjournal.com


--------------------------------------------------
2. Educate public information specialist in FL about ferals & TNR

Source: Full article located at
http://news-press.com/news/local_state/040606fixafeline.html

Ria Brown, public information specialist for Lee County Animal Services
is quoted as saying, "Unfortunately that doesn’t solve the problem
because we have to euthanize [feral cats] anyway because they spread and
contract diseases and can’t be adopted out.”

As well as asking Ms. Brown to support TNR, please point out that feral
cats are no more prone to spreading and contracting diseases as are pet
cats. A report published from the University of Florida on more than
1,800 feral cats demonstrated only 4% to be infected with feline
leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus, which is similar to
that found in pet cats. [See "Statement from Dr. Julie Levy, read at the
hearing of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) on the
proposed policy to eradicate feral cats in Florida." May 30, 2003.
Available at http://www.bestfriends.org/nmhp/ferals26-02.htm.] Dr. Levy
also reports, "In the United States, it is well accepted that wildlife
species, not domestic animals, are the reservoir for rabies..... In
2002, cats represented less than 4% of the rabid animals identified in
[Florida]."


CONTACT:
Lee County Animal Services
Attention: Ria Brown
5600 Banner Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33912
Email: animalservices@leegov.com
Phone: (239) 432-2090 Ext. 241

TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Email: feedback@news-press.com

---------------------------------------------------------
3. Comments needed in support of homeless cats in Horry County, SC

Source: Full article located at
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/8875202.htm

BACKGROUND:

Officials in Horry County, South Carolina are deciding the fate of their
homeless cat population. The local rescue organization Sav-R-Cats
advocates Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). As usual, the Audubon Society
disapproves of TNR. Jack Peachey, President of the Waccamaw Chapter of
the Audubon Society, is quoted as saying, “My recommendation is, if the
cat’s brought in and after three days ... nobody’s picked it up,
euthanize the thing.”


CONTACT:

Horry County Council
Council Chambers
1301 2nd Avenue
Conway, SC. 29526
Email: countycouncil@horrycounty.org
Phone: 843-915-5120
Fax: 843-915-6120

---------------------------------------------------------
{The Animal Spirit Newsletter}
Support letters for homeless cats Part 2
Date: 6/12/2004
From: theanimalspirit@hotmail.com


4. Comments needed re: King Island "Cat Control Program"

Source:
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9829867%5E3462,00.html

Please read the article below and then contact the following agencies
regarding humane control of the feral cat population. One of the reasons
feral cats are a concern on King Island is because they interfere with
the island's money-making pheasant hunting season.

This article states that a cat-specific toxin will be tested on King
Island.


CONTACT:

King Island Tourism Inc.
PO Box 269
Currie, King Island
Tasmania 7256
Email: info@kingisland.org.au

Department of the Environment and Heritage
John Gorton Building
King Edward Terrace
Parkes ACT 2600
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: +61 2 6274 1111
Fax: +61 2 6274 1666
Online Comments: http://www.deh.gov.au/about/comments.html

The Hon Dr David Kemp, MP
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Vice President of the Executive Council
Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7640
Fax: (02) 6273 6101
Email: D.Kemp.MP@aph.gov.au

Shayne Murphy, Senator for Tasmania
59 Brisbane Street
Launceston TAS 7250
Tel: (02) 6277 3551
Fax: (02) 6277 5899
Email: senator.murphy@aph.gov.au


NEWS ARTICLE:

Cat controls set for island
By ROHAN WADE
June 13, 2004
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9829867%5E3462,00.html
The Sunday Tasmanian
This report appears on NEWS.com.au.

--------------------------------------------
5. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

SOURCE: http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/cec/news/news.html#feralcat

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources issued a report on
June 7 against the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. Please send polite
support letters for TNR emphasizing that homeless cat colonies, which
are a result of human neglect and irresponsibility, should be dealt with
effectively and humanely by implementing TNR programs. A public
education campaign, as well as free and low-cost spay/neuter clinics are
also a necessity. Killing should not be an option.

CONTACT:
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Rembert C. Dennis Building,
1000 Assembly Street,
Columbia, SC 29201

---------------------------------------------
SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear __________________:

I respectfully urge you to support Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs in
(LOCATION). TNR is an effective, internationally recognized program to
reduce, and eventually eliminate, feral cat colonies.

A feral cat is a homeless domestic animal with a strong fear of humans.
These cats find themselves in their current situation due to the
public's irresponsibility; the refusal to spay/neuter and abandoning of
cats who are no longer wanted has slowly created the existing feral cat
colonies found throughout the country. Killing the victims of such
negligence should not be a consideration.

TNR has been proven to be the most effective, humane solution for feral
cat colonies. For example, Hamilton, New Jersey's Township health
department statistics show that the number of homeless cats killed last
year is less than 20 percent of the 571 cats put to death in Hamilton
five years ago, before TNR. Moreover, fewer strays are brought to the
Hamilton shelter each year. Township spokesperson Rich McClellan
attributed this impressive success to the work of TNR caretakers [See
"Group deals with feral cat problem," Trenton Times, July 6, 2003].

The July 15, 2003 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
reports evidence stating that policies and education to reduce cat
overpopulation should include altering feral cats, and should target the
general public, not just pet owners, because not all cat feeders have
pets [See "Number of unowned free-roaming cats in a college community in
the southern United States and characteristics of community residents
who feed them"].

The public has been provided with false information regarding ferals,
thus leading to unnecessary fear and panic. Such misinformation has led
people to believe that feral cats are carriers of rabies, therefore
posing a serious public health risk. Rabies is not commonly found within
feral cat colonies. During the TNR debate in Florida, Dr. Julie Levy
spoke on behalf of feral cats at the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission
(FWC) hearing and stated, "In 2002, cats represented less than 4% of the
rabid animals identified in the state.... Regardless, feral cat TNR
programs routinely immunize cats against rabies." Dr. Levy also
addressed other infectious diseases such as Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) by stating that, "A report
published from the University of Florida on more than 1,800 feral cats
demonstrated only 4% to be infected with feline leukemia virus or feline
immunodeficiency virus, which is similar to that found in pet cats."
[See "Statement from Dr. Julie Levy, read at the hearing of the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) on the proposed policy to eradicate
feral cats in Florida."]

Feral cats have been erroneously blamed for bird decline. While it is
true that outdoor cats do occasionally kill birds, the main cause of
bird decline is habitat loss, which is caused by humans, not cats.
National Geographic News reports that the declining bird populations
reflect growing threats to many bird species resulting from habitat loss
and fragmentation caused by development and other human activities. [See
"Quarter of U.S. Birds in Decline, Says Audubon," National Geographic
News, November 5, 2002].

Even where cats might be observed hunting, killing the cats fails to
address this issue. This is because traditional, agency-run attempts to
trap and kill cats have historically resulted in greater numbers of
homeless animals than have well-planned systems to trap, alter, and
return cats. The latter method stabilizes numbers and facilitates the
eventual elimination of colonies of homeless cats.

I respectfully request that you review existing TNR programs and
consider implementing this effective approach. Thank you for your time
and consideration.

Sincerely,

------------------------------------------------
For up-to-date alerts regarding homeless cats, please visit
http://www.theanimalspirit.com/feralcatnetwork.html and Feral Cat Blog at http://www.catsinthenews.blogspot.com/. Thanks to Barb for
maintaining Feral Cat Blog and keeping us informed!
------------------------------------------------


Kittens not so cute by the million
The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA


Governor candidate asks, ‘ How hard can it be? ’
Kinky Friedman is an author, musician and columnist for Texas Monthly. He wrote this for the Los Angeles Times.
"Why am I running for governor of Texas in 2006? Why the hell not? I already have several good campaign slogans, starting with “How hard could it be? ... I also want to save innocent animals. When I’m governor, Texas will
become a no-kill state. I’ll also outlaw the declawing of cats. ...
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - Fort Wayne, IN, USA


Como Watershed Group, BC Canada = Conservation & Ecology News week of June 6th 04
Cats Indoors! American Bird Conservancy believes that a more humane alternative that protects native wildlife and cats are fully enclosed sanctuaries on private property. These sanctuaries keep the cats safe, well-fed, with shelter and access to routine veterinary care, and the cats do not harm wildlife or create health hazards for the public. Sanctuaries need not be fancy, and can be easily erected in a backyard for a small number of cats. For more information on building outdoor enclosures for pet cats or stray/feral cats, see the SafeCat Outdoor Enclosure at: www.just4cats.com.


June is adopt-a-cat month
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Seattle, WA, USA


College students often abandon pets
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA
[This story picked up in various PA newspapers]


Pluses and minuses
[Scroll down to]
Minus: Browsers Books and Gifts,
Newark Advocate, OH


When it's raining cats and dogs, know what to do to protect your ...
Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX


'Purrfect' time to adopt cats, kittens from shelter
Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, IA